2019 Excellence in Craft contests and rules

The 2019 contests are now open

OVERVIEW OF CONTESTS:

“Published” shall be either in traditional media or on the Internet. All entries must be related to the outdoors and must be a professional effort, meaning the member has received direct payment or otherwise derived income through advertising or other sponsorship related to the entry.

TELEVISION/VIDEO/WEBCAST

The entrant must select one or more of following roles on the entry form: Producer/Director, On-Camera Talent, Videographer, and/or Editor. The entry shall be judged only for the entrant’s role(s) in the production.

Categories:

Hunting or shooting sports — This includes hunting for both large and small game, and competitive or recreational shooting. This includes archery, firearms and other methods. Recreational shooting stories can be human interest stories or inspiring stories about a competition.

Fishing — This includes freshwater and saltwater, any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure within the sports.

Conservation or nature — Emphasis on successes or challenges within conservation; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant or ecosystem.

Gear/technical — Must be informative about gear; or instructional in how to use outdoor equipment in an entertaining yet easy-to-understand manner.

Outdoor fun and adventure — Best outdoor recreation story from the various non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, outdoor sports such as camping/backpacking, boating, hiking, birding, snow skiing, orienteering, mountain biking and general outdoor activities.

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

RADIO/PODCAST

Encompasses all forms of audio-specific production. Entries must be submitted as originally produced for air, podcast or subscription.

Categories:

Hunting or shooting sports — This includes hunting for both large and small game, and competitive or recreational shooting. This includes archery, firearms and other methods. Recreational shooting stories can be human interest stories or inspiring stories about a competition.

Fishing — This includes freshwater and saltwater, any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure within the sports.

Conservation or nature — Emphasis on successes or challenges within conservation; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant or ecosystem.

Gear/technical — Must be informative about gear; or instructional in how to use outdoor equipment in an entertaining yet easy-to-understand manner.

Outdoor fun and adventure — Best outdoor recreation story from the various non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, outdoor sports such as camping/backpacking, boating, hiking, birding, snow skiing, orienteering, mountain biking and general outdoor activities.

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

MAGAZINE/E-ZINE

The entry must be published during the contest period in a printed magazine or on a website (e-zine).

Categories:

Hunting or shooting sports — This includes hunting for both large and small game, and competitive or recreational shooting. This includes archery, firearms and other methods. Recreational shooting stories can be human interest stories or inspiring stories about a competition.

Fishing — This includes freshwater and saltwater, any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure within the sports.

Conservation or nature — Emphasis on successes or challenges within conservation; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant or ecosystem.

Humor — Better be funny and outdoors oriented.

Gear/technical — Must be informative about gear; or instructional in how to use outdoor equipment in an entertaining yet easy-to-understand manner.

Outdoor fun and adventure — Best outdoor recreation story from the various non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, outdoor sports such as camping/backpacking, boating, hiking, birding, snow skiing, orienteering, mountain biking and general outdoor activities.

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

NEWSPAPER/NEWS WEBSITE

The entry must be published during the contest period in a printed newspaper or on a news website.

Categories:

Hunting or shooting sports — This includes hunting for both large and small game, and competitive or recreational shooting. This includes archery, firearms and other methods. Recreational shooting stories can be human interest stories or inspiring stories about a competition.

Fishing — This includes freshwater and saltwater, any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure within the sports.

Conservation or nature — Emphasis on successes or challenges within conservation; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant or ecosystem.

Humor — Better be funny and outdoors oriented.

Gear/technical — Must be informative about gear; or instructional in how to use outdoor equipment in an entertaining yet easy-to-understand manner.

Outdoor fun and adventure — Best outdoor recreation story from the various non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, outdoor sports such as camping/backpacking, boating, hiking, birding, snow skiing, orienteering, mountain biking and general outdoor activities.

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

BLOG

The entry must be published during the contest period.

Categories:

Hunting or shooting sports — This includes hunting for both large and small game, and competitive or recreational shooting. This includes archery, firearms and other methods. Recreational shooting stories can be human interest stories or inspiring stories about a competition.

Fishing — This includes freshwater and saltwater, any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure within the sports.

Conservation or nature — Emphasis on successes or challenges within conservation; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant or ecosystem.

Humor — Better be funny and outdoors oriented.

Gear/technical — Must be informative about gear; or instructional in how to use outdoor equipment in an entertaining yet easy-to-understand manner.

Outdoor fun and adventure — Best outdoor recreation story from the various non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, outdoor sports such as camping/backpacking, boating, hiking, birding, snow skiing, orienteering, mountain biking and general outdoor activities.

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

COLUMN

From newspaper, magazine, website or blog. Three samples required. This can be on any outdoor recreation, nature or conservation topic, but must be a regularly published, opinion-style column, not a general news or feature story.

Categories:

Overall 1st, 2nd, 3rd. No subject-based categories.

BOOK/E-BOOK

A work of 30 pages or more on any outdoor subject. A book can be entered in only one book category.

Categories:

General audience — Must be a factual and informative book about an outdoor recreation or conservation topic.

Youth audience — Must be a factual and informative book about an outdoor recreation or conservation topic and written for a youth audience.

ILLUSTRATION/GRAPHIC

The entry must be published; sold as fine art in a gallery, on a website or other public display; or have otherwise have created revenue for the artist or a nonprofit organization as a donation by the artist, during the contest year. Cartoon/cartoon strips accepted. (Excludes photographs.)

Categories:

General/overall outdoor — Based on outdoor recreation or nature.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Black-and-white AND color photos. The entry must be published; sold as fine art in a gallery, on a website or other public display; or have otherwise have created revenue for the photographer or a nonprofit organization as a donation by the photographer, during the contest year.

Categories:

Action — Captures action (movement, motion) in an outdoor subject.

People — Primary subject is one or more people in an outdoor setting.

Scenic — Portrayal of a landscape or other outdoor scene in which the general view, rather than a specific person, animal or plant, is the theme of the image.

Flora — Wild plant(s) is the main subject in its natural setting.

Fauna — A wild animal, bird, fish, insect or other live creature is the main subject in its natural setting. Human beings are excluded from the subject matter.

Outdoor fun and adventure — Best outdoor recreation story from the various non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, outdoor sports such as camping/backpacking, boating, hiking, birding, snow skiing, orienteering, mountain biking and general outdoor activities.

Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY

A series of 3 to 20 photographs around a common theme or that tell a story through images related to the outdoors/nature. Black-and-white and/or color photos. The photographs must be published together simultaneously in a printed newspaper, news website, magazine, online magazine (e-Zine), blog; displayed as a cohesive collection as fine art in a gallery (e.g. exhibition where at least one print sold); or have otherwise have created revenue for the photographer or a nonprofit organization as a donation by the photographer, during the contest year.

PRIZES:

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in each category. Honorable mentions may also be awarded at the judges’ discretion. A minimum of three entries are required in a category; prizes will be awarded at the judges’ discretion. If no prizes are awarded in a category due to insufficient entries (two or less), then entry fees for that category shall be returned to participants.

ENTRY FEES:

$10 per digital entry. $20 per entry sent via postal mail.*

*All CDs, DVDs and book entries are $10 per entry even though they are sent via postal mail.

Entry fees can be paid by individual or employer. Limit of two entries per category. All entries submitted electronically (or postmarked, if applicable) after Jan. 11, 2019, will be assessed a late fee of $5 per entry. Late fees must accompany entries submitted after Jan. 11, 2019. Entries received after Feb. 1, 2019, will be disqualified. Entry fees will not be returned in event of disqualification. Entry fees will be refunded for those submitted to any category that did receive enough entries (minimum of three) to be judged.

Electronic payment (credit card or PayPal) is encouraged. Personal checks will also be accepted. See the OWAA website for details.

CONTEST RULES:

TELEVISION/VIDEO/WEBCAST

Television/video entries shall be submitted by DVD or via website link, accompanied by the entry form available on the OWAA website. All DVDs should be viewable using Quicktime and Windows Media Player. Entries submitted via website link must be viewable without password or subscription. One entry per website link or DVD.

A. Entries must have been broadcast between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.

B. Submit entries either via a website link (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo) or three DVD copies via postal mail. On each DVD, include your name and your role(s) in the production. Proof (such as a letter from station manager) of broadcast date and byline can be uploaded to the online form or mailed with DVDs. DVDs or links may contain ONLY the segment to be judged. Any DVD or link that contains multiple entries will be disqualified.

C. Copies of entries will not be returned.

RADIO/PODCAST

Radio/podcast entries shall be submitted as mp3/mp4 files on CD or via website link, accompanied by the entry form available on the OWAA website. One entry per website link or CD.

A. Entries must have aired between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.

B. Submit either via website/electronic link showing byline or three CD copies via postal mail. Include title of program on each. Proof (such as a letter from station manager) of broadcast date and byline can be uploaded to the online form or mailed with CDs. CDs or links must contain ONLY the segment to be judged. Any CD or link that contains multiple entries will be disqualified.

C. Copies of entries will not be returned.

MAGAZINE/E-ZINE and NEWSPAPER/NEWS WEBSITE

Magazine/E-zine and Newspaper/News Website entries shall be submitted as PDF/JPEG files, accompanied by the entry form on the OWAA website.

A. Entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.

B. Remove article from magazine or newspaper section.

C. A multi-part series may not be submitted as a single entry.

D. Submit two PDF/JPEGs: Submit one legible PDF/JPEG with publication name, date and byline included and one legible PDF/JPEG for judges with bylines and photos credits rendered unreadable. (If names and photo credits can still be seen through black marker, etc., entry will be disqualified.) Headlines, photos and graphics accompanying the article need not be removed.

BLOG

Blog entries shall be submitted as text-only PDFs along with a web address that links to the original source. If public access to the original source is not available, the entrant should provide an additional PDF or image of the blog which shows the original web page. These files and links shall be accompanied by the entry form on the OWAA website.

A. Entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.

B. Submit one PDF: Submit one PDF with just the text of the article and no byline – this can be accomplished by copying and pasting the text if a text-only PDF cannot be generate from the website. A website link to the original posting containing byline and publish date should also be provided. If the content is only available by paid subscription or some other kind of restriction, the entrant should provide an additional pdf or image of the blog which shows the original webpage with byline and publish date.

COLUMN

Column entries shall be submitted as PDF/JPEG files, accompanied by the entry form on the OWAA website.

A. Entries must have been published between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.

B. Three samples required. This can be on any outdoor recreation, nature on conservation topic, but must be a regularly published, opinion-style column, not a general news or feature story.

C. Remove article from magazine or newspaper section.

D. Submit two PDF/JPEGs of each sample: Submit one legible PDF/JPEG with publication name, date and byline included and one legible PDF/JPEG for judges with bylines and photos credits rendered unreadable. (If names and photo credits can still be seen through black marker, etc., entry will be disqualified.) Headlines, photos and graphics accompanying the article need not be removed.

BOOK/E-BOOK

Book/e-book entries may be submitted hard-bound or paperback; e-books shall be submitted as PDF files on CDs.

A. Entries must have been published between Dec. 1. 2016 and Nov. 30, 2018.

B. Submit via postal mail: Three CDs or three copies of each hard-bound/paperback book. Entries will be donated to judges.

C. If your entry is a second edition, at least 20 percent of the book must be revised or contain new material.

D. Republished books may only be submitted if the republish dates falls within the date range above AND the original published version was never entered into a previous OWAA EIC contest.

E. Editor bylines are not acceptable. Entrant must be listed as the book author.

F. Copies of entries will not be returned.

Special deadline: Deadline for this contest is Dec. 3, 2018. No exceptions.

ILLUSTRATION/GRAPHIC

Illustration/graphic entries shall be submitted electronically (300 dpi, high-resolution PDF/JPEG at a maximum size of 10MB), accompanied by the entry form on the OWAA website.

A. Entries must have been published or sold as fine art between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018. Calendar entries must carry 2018 date.

B. Submit two PDF/JPEGs: (1) Submit one high-resolution JPEG as it was submitted for publication or display. (2) Each entry shall be accompanied by a JPEG or PDF of the image as it appeared in publication, if applicable. If a tear sheet or visual proof of publication is not available, then proof of revenue to the artist or to the charity to which the artist donated the illustration/graphic must be submitted. The proof of publication or display must include an artist credit or otherwise show the artist’s name. One image constitutes as an entry; multiple images entered as a single entry will be disqualified (excluding comic strips).

C. Each entry must have a title.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography entries shall be submitted electronically (300 dpi, high-resolution JPEG at a maximum size of 10MB), accompanied by the entry form on the OWAA website.

A. Photos may have been taken at any time, but must have been published or sold as fine art between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018. Calendar entries must carry 2018 date.

B. Submit two PDF/JPEGs: (1) Submit one high-resolution JPEG as it was submitted for publication or display. (2) Each entry shall be accompanied by a JPEG or PDF of the image as it appeared in publication, if applicable. If a tear sheet or visual proof of display is not available, then proof of revenue to the photographer or to the charity to which the photographer donated the photo art must be submitted. The proof of publication or display must include a photo credit or otherwise show the photographer’s name. The judges will only receive the original photograph (not the tear sheet) so they are not influenced by the quality of reproduction.

C. Winning entries may comprise the OWAA traveling photo exhibit during 2019-2020 and will be displayed at the OWAA annual conference. Suitable prints of winning images will be made by OWAA and used for one year in the traveling photo exhibits. Winning entries may be reproduced for exhibitors to use for publicity purposes.

PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY

Photography essay entries shall be submitted as PDF/JPEG files, accompanied by the entry form on the OWAA website.

A. The photos featured in the essay may have been taken at any time, but must have been published between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2018.

B. A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 20 photographs may be submitted.

C. Photography entries shall be submitted electronically (recommended specs: 72 dpi JPEG sized to approximately 14 inches on the longest side), accompanied by the entry form on the OWAA website.

D. Submit two sets of PDF/JPEGs: (1) Submit one JPEG for each photograph featured in the photographic essay. (2) Each entry shall be accompanied by a JPEG or PDF of the images as they appeared in publication, if applicable. The proof of publication or display must include a photo credit or otherwise show the photographer’s name. If a tear sheet or visual proof of display is not available, then proof of revenue or exhibition must be submitted. The judges will only receive the original photographs (not the tear sheet) so they are not influenced by the quality of reproduction.

E. Individual photographs contained within the collection may be submitted to other EIC contest categories.

ADDITIONAL RULES:

All entries must be related to the outdoors and must be a professional effort, meaning the member has received direct payment or otherwise derived income through advertising or other sponsorship related to the entry.

Members must pay 2019 dues prior to submitting entries.

Letter of verification from editor/publisher must accompany newspaper and magazine entries not containing bylines or containing pen names.

Co-authored, co-photographed and co-produced creations may be entered only once, regardless of how many people received bylines/credits. For co-authored, co-photographed and co-produced entries, all authors/photographers/producers must be OWAA members, with the exception of the Book contest in which only one author must be an OWAA member. The prize will be split among the co-authors/photographers/producers and one certificate will be awarded with all co-authors/photographers/producers’ names on it.

Entries may be entered in multiple categories (eg. Hunting or shooting sports, gear/technical, etc.) if the category description applies, but with the exception of the column and children’s story contests that span different media, an entry may only be entered in a single contest. For example, a single piece may not be considered both a blog and a new website piece. This would not prohibit portions of a text-photo package or other multimedia project from being entered separately into their respective contests.

Entry constitutes a waiver of copyright restrictions on reprinting or reproducing entries by OWAA and the contest sponsor for the purpose of circulating entries between OWAA and other interested parties.

Family or friends may enter deceased OWAA members’ works, published or broadcast during the contest year.

Award certificates and checks are made out to individuals, not organizations, publications or broadcast stations.

Entries submitted during a previous contest year, even though re-published or re-broadcast, may not be entered.